He crammed them with crumbs of benefices,
And fild their mouthes with meeds of malefices;
     [Malifices, evil deeds.]
He cloathed them with all colours save white, 1155
And loded them with lordships and with might,
So much as they were able well to beare,
That with the weight their backs nigh broken were. 
He chaffred chayres in which churchmen were set,
     [Chaffred, bartered.]
And breach of lawes to privie ferme did let. 1160
     [Ferme, farm.]
No statute so established might bee,
Nor ordinaunce so needfull, but that hee
Would violate, though not with violence,
Yet under colour of the confidence
The which the Ape repos’d in him alone, 1165
And reckned him the kingdomes corner stone. 
And ever, when he ought would bring to pas,
His long experience the platforme was: 
And when he ought not pleasing would put by
The cloke was care of thrift, and husbandry, 1170
For to encrease the common treasures store. 
But his owne treasure he encreased more,
And lifted up his loftie towres thereby,
That they began to threat the neighbour sky;
The whiles the princes pallaces fell fast 1175
To ruine; for what thing can ever last? 
And whilest the other peeres for povertie
Were forst their auncient houses to let lie,
And their olde castles to the ground to fall,
Which their forefathers famous over-all 1180
     [Over-all, everywhere.]
Had founded for the kingdomes ornament,
And for their memories long moniment. 
But he no count made of nobilitie,
Nor the wilde beasts whom armes did glorifie, 1185
The realmes chiefe strength and girlond of the crowne. 
All these through fained crimes he thrust adowne,
Or made them dwell in darknes of disgrace: 
For none but whom he list might come in place. 
Of men of armes he had but small regard,
But kept them lowe, and streigned verie hard. 1190
For men of learning little he esteemed;
His wisedome he above their learning deemed. 
As for the rascall commons, least he cared,
For not so common was his bountie shared:  1194
“Let God,” said he, “if please, care for the manie,
I for my selfe must care before els anie.” 
So did he good to none, to manie ill,
So did he all the kingdome rob and pill,
     [Pill, plunder.]
Yet none durst speake, ne none durst of him plaine;
So great he was in grace, and rich through game. 
Ne would he anie let to have accesse 1201
Unto the Prince, but by his owne addresse: 
For all that els did come were sure to faile;
Yet would he further none but for availe. 
For on a time the Sheepe, to whom of yore